Biological systems engineering

Biological Systems Engineering (BSE) is a broad-based engineering discipline with additional emphasis on biology and chemistry. It is not to be confused with Biomedical Engineering and it is not necessarily Genetic Engineering, although the line between the two is sometimes blurred. The program focuses on environmentally sound, sustainable engineering solutions to meet societies’ needs.

Biological Systems Engineering is very broad, rapidly expanding and transforming, engineering field that can be seen as an integration of several other fundamental engineering fields, although it has not technically stemmed from them. It has instead spread to encompass subject matters from many other engineering and non-engineering disciplines.

Many Biological Engineering departments have a history of being grounded in Agricultural Engineering and have only in last decade or so changed their names to reflect the movement towards more diverse biological based engineering programs

Due to the vast nature of biological engineering and the differences between programs offered at various universities, it is commonplace for Biological Engineers to struggle to accurately summarize the knowledge and skills gained in their education in a concise manner.

It is also not uncommon for many employers, for which a Biological Engineer is particularly suited; to have not understand what a Biological Engineer is capable of. For example, an environmental consulting firm may commonly hire civil engineers and biologists to meet the needs of the company, but may not realize that a Biological Engineer has a background in what both of these employees do, thus bridging the gap between engineering and the biological sciences. For this reason that Biological Engineers are becoming integral, valuable parts of many environmental engineering firms, consulting firms, federal agencies, and biotechnology industries.

Since Biological Engineering does cover an immense spectrum, many departments offer specialization options. Depending on the department and the specialization options offered within each program, curriculum may overlap with other related engineering fields. There are a myriad of different titles for BSE related departments at various universities. The professional society commonly associated with many Biological Engineering disciplines is the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE).

Specialization Options

• Land and Water Resources Engineering
• Food and Bioprocess Engineering
• Machinery Systems Engineering
• Natural Resources and Environmental Engineering

Related Engineering Fields

• Civil Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Highly related Sciences

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Hydrology
• Biochemistry
• Microbiology
• Soil Science
• Ecology
• Physics

Titles for BSE Related Departments at Various Universities

• Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

• Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, University of Kentucky

• Biosystems Engineering, Auburn University

• Biological & Environmental Engineering, Cornell University

• Biological & Agricultural Engineering, University of Arkansas

• Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

• BioResource & Agricultural Engineering, California Polytechnic State University

• Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Ohio State University

• Biological and Ecological Engineering, Oregon State University

• Bioresources Engineering, University of Delaware

• Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, University of Minnesota